Ezra 10:1

The People Confess Their Sin

1 ¹While Ezra prayed and ²made confession, weeping and ³casting himself down ⁴before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.

Ezra 10:1 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 10:1

Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping,
&c.] Had confessed the sins of the people in prayer and supplication, with many tears:

and casting himself down before the house of God;
in the outward court before the temple, his face turned towards it, where he lay prostrate:

there assembled to him out of Israel a very great congregation of men,
and women, and children;
it was quickly spread abroad, both in Jerusalem and places adjacent, that such a great man, a commissioner from the king of Persia, and a priest of the Jews, was in the utmost distress, rending his garments, and plucking off his hair, and was crying and praying in a vehement manner; which brought a great concourse of people, who concluded some great sins were committed, and sore judgments were coming upon them:

for the people wept very sore;
being affected with his confessions, cries, and tears, and fearing wrath would come upon them for their sins.

Ezra 10:1 In-Context

1 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.

2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: "We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

3 Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law.

4 Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it."

5 Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 1:4, 5
• 2. Nehemiah 1:6; Daniel 9:20
• 3. Deuteronomy 9:18
• 4. [2 Chronicles 20:9]